Knock Knock

"Come in" Quinn mumbled irritably as Rachel rapped on the door.

"Oh gawd….." Rachel mumbled as she pushed the door open, revealing an unravelled Quinn. The blonde sat at her desk, threading her hands through her head as she stared at her computer screen. The look on her face was contoured between horror and hysterics, which scared Rachel even more. She could see Quinn had gotten older, matured… Glasses? Longer hair? Tailored-suits?... She fitted the picture perfectly of Webber&Blaire Attorneys. Rachel stabilized herself as she waked in, raising her hand in a greeting.

"Morning Quinn… You look amazing"

Quinn's eyes suddenly shot up and focused on Rachel, staring at her for a few seconds. Confusion etched itself in her face before a curt smile appeared on her lips once more.

"My 10 o'clock right?" Quinn stated plainly before she got up, leaning over her desk to greet Rachel by hand.

Rachel simply nodded her head. Did Quinn remember her? Was she trying to act… Normal? What the hell was going on. Their eyes connected as Rachel found herself staring at Quinn. Quinn cleared her throat slightly before sitting down again,

"Please. Take a seat." Quinn motioned to a fine leather seat before she removed her glasses.

Everything was surreal. Rachel had pictured herself swooping in, begging for forgiveness and then they would embrace. The heart-breaking reunion which would bring tears and joy….. Or atleast she would get chased down by security guards… Where's the drama of it all?... Quinn just sat there, smiling politely at her as she took a seat. IT WAS A TRAP! Rachel knew this was too good to be true… This was Quinn they were talking about… The one person that scared her more than Santana… Cruel… Calculating… Conceited….

"Something wrong Rachel?"

Quinn raised her eyebrow slightly as her eyes weighed Rachel up. The room suddenly became frosty as Rachel looked around. Everything was marble and dark wood… Rosewood perhaps? Rachel didn't know. All she knew was this was a new kind of hell created just for her. She couldn't keep it in any more. The world was crushing her… Breaking her slowly….

"I'm sorry Quinn." Rachel blurted out impulsively. "I know that what I did was… is… inexcusable… but you need to understand that I was lonely... Not really lonely since I had Finn… but Sam gave me the attention I needed… I wanted… and…. and I was so jealous of you! You always got what you wanted… and I wanted what you had… And he… he used me just as much as he used you… Quinn… I'm so so so sorry… Please! Please… please forgive me…" Rachel took a deep breath and waited longer than usual to exhale…. What the hell was that?

"This isn't exactly the time or place to discuss this Rachel" Quinn stated pointedly as she knotted her hands infront of her.

Really? After all that? Quinn was gonna act like she was okay with it all? Really?

"Quinn… I can't just sit here and ignore the white elephant in the room" Rachel pleaded before she reached over and touched Quinn's hand with her own. Quinn automatically flinched from the contact. If the situation had not been so intense, Rachel would've laughed at the sudden emotional whiplash that took hold of Quinn.

"What do you want to know Rachel? … That I'm hurt? Crushed? I was a wreck for weeks… That I couldn't even look at your photo without feeling like the biggest fool ever created?" Quinn's words were cold and hallow… They didn't hold anger or pain… It was just void and null…

"But Sam - " Rachel pleaded…

"Sam was a jerk. But the reason you hurt me more, was because I cared more for you… In time I realized I was using Sam as much as he was using me… but we were friends…"

Rachel was shocked at the control Quinn had… how cold she had really become… She had become cool, calm… so much more mature than the little girl who had been playing tug-of-war with Santana's emotions. Rachel had told Santana the watered-down version of what happened the last time she had seen Quinn and in turn, Santana told Rachel everything about her an Quinn… It was actually heart-breaking… You could see the scars which had been left.

"I'm not gonna try making excuses…" Rachel took a deep breath as she realized that this is what it is. All she can do now is just apologize and hope that Quinn will come around one day. "I really miss having you as a friend and I know you need someone too… I was wrong and I messed up so bad, but atleast I'm trying to fix it…. Because despite how much you hate me… I also want to be there for you."

Rachel saw a Quinn soften at her words as Quinn's glare softened… It was time to let go… and just move on… Maybe Quinn knew this too. Silence enveloped them for a few seconds as each disappeared into their own thoughts…

"Rachel… I need to know what happened that night with Santana at the bar... Did Candy and her have a…. sexual relationship?" Quinn's voice was soft and gentle, but Rachel knew that the Sam topic was over now because there was a slight edginess to Quinn's voice.